European Union

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Friday, 18 November 2016: Re-framing Food and Agriculture: From Degeneration to Regeneration Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) High-Level Meeting Business Perspectives on Implementing the Paris Agreement: Role of Business in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and 5-Year Cycles Addressing Loss and Damage in Developing Countries: The Need for a Global Agricultural Insurance Mechanism Main Achievements - Future Ambitions, State of Palestine IISD Reporting Services, through its ENBOTS Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis, Liz Rubin and Tallash Kantai For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Re-framing Food and Agriculture: From Degeneration to RegenerationPresented by Biovision Foundation, IFOAM-Organics International, Organic Consumers Association, Regeneration International and Shumei International This event, moderated by Alexis Baden-Mayer, Organic Consumers Association, US, addressed the use of sustainable agricultural practices and landscape restoration as tools to address climate change, and contribute to negative carbon emissions. Konrad Meyer, Biovision Foundation, called for enhancing the scientific evidence for sustainable agriculture in different contexts, and urged showcasing these practices. He advocated for a greater focus on enabling conditions for sustainable agriculture, including at the national and subnational level. John D. Liu, Environmental Education Media Project, presented a film on landscape restoration. He described the establishment of ecosystem cooperatives and ecosystem camps as a bottom-up approach that encourages landscape restoration and teaches regenerative agriculture. Andre Leu, President, IFOAM-Organics International, said an important tool for addressing climate change is soil management, noting that soil holds twice the amount of carbon as other potential carbon sinks. He stated that farming needs to stop contributing to climate change and instead become one of the most important solutions to addressing climate change. Abdellah Boudhira, Regenerative Farmer, Morocco, said he has changed his farming practices to using organic methods. He said that use of, inter alia, crop rotation and heirloom seeds has assisted in regenerating soils and improved crop resilience to pest infestations. Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Natural Agriculture Development Program, Zambia, highlighted the benefits of natural agriculture practices, by, for instance, using mulching to preserve soil water retention, which can help in times of drought. She said her organization also works on improving access to markets for some smallholder farmers. Murielle Trouillet, 4p1000 Initiative, Ministry of Agriculture, France, presented on the 4p1000 initiative that aims to, among others, improve knowledge on soils and collaboration among stakeholders, and facilitate access to finance. She said that current practices should be valorized and disseminated. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed: improving coordination between government ministries to ensure a coherent message; paradigm shifts to avoid business-as-usual in farming; the increasing amount of food aid required for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa; blue carbon farming practices and their benefits, including food security; and work on regenerating farms around Fukushima, Japan. From L-R: Konrad Meyer, Biovision Foundation; John D. Liu, Environmental Education Media Project; Andre Leu, President, IFOAM-Organics International; Abdellah Boudhira, Regenerative Farmer, Morocco; Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Natural Agriculture Development Program, Zambia; and Murielle Trouillet, 4p1000 Initiative, French Ministry of Agriculture, France Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Natural Agriculture Development Program, Zambia, said that there are discrepancies between reported statistics and data on climate change, and what is actually happening on the ground. Abdellah Boudhira, Regenerative Farmer, Morocco, said that using organic farming methods can reestablish the connection between farmers and consumers, and reduce the price of vegetables by cutting out the middlemen. Murielle Trouillet, 4p1000 Initiative, Ministry of Agriculture, France, said that farmers are key to addressing climate change, stating that they must be a part of the elaboration of tools to help improve farming practices. Andre Leu, President, IFOAM-Organics International, said that climate change is like a sinking boat where we have not even managed to plug the leak. John D. Liu, Environmental Education Media Project, presented a film on landscape restoration, and addressed its contributions to higher, sustainable yields. Konrad Meyer, Biovision Foundation, said that sustainable agricultural practices are “the right way forward,” and evidence to support this should be strengthened. Contacts: Alexis Baden-Mayer (Moderator)| alexis@organicconsumers.org More Information: www.organicconsumers.org/ Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) High-Level MeetingPresented by the CVF Moderator Negash Kebret Botora, Ethiopia, opened the meeting. CVF Chair Gemedo Dalle, Ethiopia, invited CVF countries to pursue robust domestic climate action agendas to ensure the full implementation of the Paris Agreement. Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), underscored the instrumental role of the CVF in the recognition of the 1.5°C temperature target in the Paris Agreement, and said the proposed CVF declaration assures a continued political will for high-level ambition. Imane Boulberj and Abdelkrim Achache, Youth Climate Change, relayed messages from over 50,000 school children in Morocco, underscoring the need to teach children how to protect the environment. Saleemul Huq, Chair, CVF Expert Advisory Group, highlighted the “Low Carbon Monitor” scientific report, noting that the 1.5°C target is not only possible, but presents an opportunity for countries. He emphasized that the next tranche of CVF activities will focus on South-South cooperation. Ambassador Gebeyehu Ganga Gayito, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the UN, noted that, following review by the Ministers at the CVF Troika Plus meeting in Addis Ababa in October 2016, draft outcome documentation was approved during the Senior Officials Meeting on 10 November 2016, with some modifications on, inter alia: modification of language on the 1.5°C target; and consideration of future adoption of Designated National Focal Point Communications. Mulugeta Mengist Ayalew, Director of Climate Change Diplomacy, Office of the Prime Minister, Ethiopia, presented a summary of the CVF Troika Plus work, noting minor modifications to the documents. Dalle noted the outcome documents; invited voluntary contributions; underscored the convening of the first CVF summit in mid-2018; and invited countries who wish to join the CVF to make their statements. Colombia, Gambia, Lebanon, Palestine and Samoa formally submitted their requests to join the CVF. The Maldives, seconded by Costa Rica and Bangladesh, tabled a motion, which was agreed by acclamation, for the adoption of the outcome documentation (CVF2016/1), including: the Guidance for Capitalization of the CVF Trust Fund; operational modalities; the CVF and Vulnerable 20 (V20) Communications Strategy; the CVF Vision; and the Marrakech Communiqué. Noting the legend that her ancestry had the power of talking to sharks and turn the tides, Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, Marshallese Poet, Marshall Islands, equated the Marrakech Communiqué to the spoken word that has the power to change the climate tide. On statements by the Troika (Costa Rica, Ethiopia and the Philippines), Marshall Islands expressed commitment to the 1.5°C target and underscored that the new energy revolution is unstoppable. Stressing that the ultimate goal is long-term survival and not only short-term gains, the Philippines stressed the CVF is not a UNFCCC negotiating body but an advocacy organization, which highlights the urgent need for climate justice and the benefits of early climate action. Costa Rica underscored the development of low-emission pathways for the rest of the century and underscored the need for rapid implementation of the Paris Agreement while safeguarding its integrity and ambition. COP 22 President Salaheddine Mezouar underscored that the CVF Roadmap seeks to turn NDCs into actionable, bankable projects, and provide a clear plan for finance and capacity building. He said the COP Presidency would take into consideration the CVF recommendations. CVF members Senegal, Rwanda, Tanzania, Afghanistan, the Dominican Republic, Nepal, the Maldives, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Guatemala provided statements, highlighting, inter alia: their commitment to the CVF’s work; national challenges related to climate change and efforts to address its negative impacts; the importance of cooperation and synergies among vulnerable countries to scale up efforts to address climate change, including sharing innovations, experiences and lessons learned; the need for international support, including financial mechanisms to help them fulfill their commitments and build resilience; the importance of institutional strengthening and capacity building; and the need for inclusivity and transparency, including in collective proposals to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In their remarks, CVF observers Germany, China and France, lauded the CVF’s work and stressed, among others: their long-term goals towards carbon neutrality; and their efforts to support developing countries, including with respect to capacity building, building resilience, renewable energy development, early warning systems and insurance against disasters. On behalf of civil society, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Head of Climate and Energy, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International, said the 1.5°C target is only possible with early action and a shift to 100% renewable energy by mid-century. He underscored the need for funding for adaptation and loss and damage. CVF Chair Dalle closed the Forum at 12:20pm. Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC Saleemul Huq, Chair, CVF Expert Advisory Group Gemedo Dale, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ethiopia Ambassador Gebeyehu Ganga Gayito, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the UN Mulugeta Mengist Ayalew, Director of Climate Change Diplomacy, Office of the Prime Minister, Ethiopia Ambassador Negash Kebret Botora, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the UN, Geneva Abdelkrim Achache, high school student, Youth Climate Change, Morocco Imane Boulberj, high school student, Youth Climate Change, Morocco Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, Marshall Islands Mattlan Zackhras, Minister in Assistance to the President of the Marshall Islands Kare Chawicha, State Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ethiopia Ismail Raushan, Maldives Edgar Gutierrez Espeleta, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica Evelyn Cruzada, Office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Philippines Salaheddine Mezouar, COP 22 President Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Head of Climate and Energy, WWF International Contacts: Matthew McKinnon (Coordinator) | matthew.mckinnon@undp.org More Information: www.thecvf.org Business Perspectives on Implementing the Paris Agreement: Role of Business in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and 5-Year CyclesPresented by the US Council for International Business (USCIB) Stephen Eule, US Chamber of Commerce, moderated the event, which explored business perspectives on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, including the engagement of the business community in the development of NDCs. Stating that governments have indicated their interest to engage stakeholders, including the business community, Norine Kennedy, USCIB, said this provides an opportunity to move forward in a facilitative dialogue after COP 22. Tanyeli Behiç Sabuncu, Tüsiad, explained the Turkish business community’s involvement in developing and implementing Turkey's NDC. He referred to several policy instruments, underscoring the need for consistency within different policies to support business performance. Walter Koren, Director General of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, lauded the momentum of the “working COP” to make progress on the Paris Agreement, pointing to the engagement of the Austrian business community. Highlighting that the green business sector is growing faster than an average business in Austria, he said a significant portion of research and development supports the environmental technology sector. Recognizing “good discussion” with the Swedish Government whereby the business community is invited to share their expert perspective, Maria Sunér Fleming, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, admitted that these views are not always incorporated in corresponding policies. She stressed the need to retain business competitiveness under Sweden’s “strict” NDC. Saying many NDCs describe targets, but few specify policies to get there, Brian Flannery, Major Economies Business Forum on Energy Security and Climate Change (BizMEF), said businesses have to “put these pieces together.” He offered an example of a potential global carbon price, indicating it would have to increase considerably to meet the 2°C target. He called for an economy-wide perspective and global interactions, because businesses are interlinked. Referring to the Keidanren Action Plan for the Environment, Kazuhiko Hombu, University of Tokyo, said this included the collaboration of 60 different industries to address climate change and broader environmental issues. Commenting that it will be difficult to reach the 2°C target without carbon capture and storage (CCS), John Scowcroft, Global CCS Institute, said ten NDCs refer to CCS, covering approximately 30% of global emissions. The ensuing discussion addressed, inter alia, how to interact with emerging green business associations, which may have different views on climate policies, and how to hold multinational companies accountable to NDCs. From L-R: Stephen Eule​, US Chamber of Commerce; Maria Sunér Fleming, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise; Norine Kennedy, USCIB; Brian Flannery, BizMEF; Tanyeli Behiç Sabuncu, Tüsiad​; and Walter Koren, Director General of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber​ Norine Kennedy, USCIB, called business “a special stakeholder group with special expectations,” and suggested closer collaborations with governments to implement the Paris Agreement. Tanyeli Behiç Sabuncu, Tüsiad​, cautioned that an additional carbon tax on energy goods would have large economic impacts, especially on more carbon-intensive sectors in Turkey. Asking what the consequences will be for business competitiveness within Sweden’s ambitious climate policy, Maria Sunér Fleming, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, called addressing this issue an “interesting balance.” Stephen Eule, US Chamber of Commerce, explained that the side event aimed to promote a dialogue and share views between businesses and governments on how to implement the Paris Agreement. Contacts: Norine Kennedy (Coordinator) | nkennedy@uscib.org More Information: www.majoreconomiesbusinessforum.org/ Addressing Loss and Damage in Developing Countries: The Need for a Global Agricultural Insurance MechanismPresented by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Action by Churches Alliance (ACT Alliance) Isaiah Toroitich, ACT Alliance, moderated the event. Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General, CSE, underscored that risk management and transfer mechanisms will become increasingly important in safeguarding small and marginal farmers from climate change impacts. Noting an increase in extreme weather events, he stressed the growing demand in the developing world for agricultural safety nets to supplement adaptation. He proposed the establishment of a globally supported agricultural insurance mechanism by 2022. Gottfried Von Gemmingen, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, noted that insurance does not reduce risk, but rather promotes awareness of risk for better management. He warned that agricultural insurance mechanisms must be sensitive to moral hazard or they could lead to unsustainable agricultural practices. Teresia Powell, Fiji, highlighted cases of Fijian relocation due to sea level rise. She welcomed anchoring Loss and Damage in the Paris Agreement in an article separate from adaptation. She stressed that community engagement in relocation is critical, especially in assessing risk, identifying new sites and developing building plans. She drew attention to the spiritual, psychological and emotional costs of community relocation. Highlighting the challenges of pursuing a Loss and Damage agenda, Peter Tarfa, Director, Climate Change Department, Nigeria, welcomed the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM). He reiterated the need for a globally supported agricultural insurance mechanism and said it should begin with the incorporation of national-level mechanisms. Sabine Minninger, Bread for the World, Germany, highlighted the role of humanitarian networks as most appropriate for distribution of Loss and Damage funds. She expressed hope that, by 2019, a Loss and Damage report would open doors to a broader financing discussion. During discussion, participants considered, inter alia: strategies to address unaffordable insurance premiums; the role of humanitarian networks to improve efficiency of insurance mechanisms; and the movement of Loss and Damage policy discussions from the periphery to the center of climate change negotiations. From L-R: Teresia Powell, Fiji; Gottfried Von Gemmingen, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany; Peter Tarfa, Director, Climate Change Department, Nigeria; and Sabine Minninger, Bread for the World, Germany. Peter Tarfa, Director, Climate Change Department, Nigeria, highlighted unprecedented flooding in Nigeria in 2012, which displaced more than two million people. Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General, CSE, said that of the ten countries most affected by extreme weather events from 1993-2010, nine were developing countries. Gottfried Von Gemmingen, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, emphasized that equity and climate justice must be the cornerstones of any global insurance mechanism. Sabine Minninger, Bread for the World, Germany, underscored the moral obligation to put Loss and Damage financing on the table. Contacts: Vijeta Rattani (Coordinator) | vijeta@cseindia.org Isaiah Toroitich (Moderator) | ikt@actalliance.org More Information: actalliance.org/ Main Achievements - Future Ambitions, State of PalestinePresented by the State of Palestine, Sweden, Belgium, UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), Ricardo-AEA and Zoï Environment Network The event highlighted key advancements for the State of Palestine since joining the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 17 March 2016 and during COP 22 in Marrakech. Otto Simonett, Director, Zoï Environment Network, moderated the event. Adalah Atira, Chairperson of Palestinian Environment Quality Authority, emphasized that more than 90% of Palestine’s water is not suitable for human consumption, which makes water projects a priority. On challenges to scaling up climate action “beyond the Israeli occupation,” she stressed: lack of means of implementation, technology and human capacity to implement ambitious climate policies; and the lack of an appropriate institutional framework. Rima Khalaf, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), stated that Israel exercises full control over Palestine’s resources, including water, land and food, which hampers opportunities in health and education. She emphasized that climate action in Palestine cannot be prosperous under the Israeli occupation. Lars Ronnås, Climate Change Ambassador, Sweden, said the Paris Agreement was a groundbreaking achievement of the international community and that “it’s important to keep the momentum” by being inclusive and human-centered. Peter Wittoeck, Head of Delegation, Belgium, recalled that Palestine is acting on climate change under extremely difficult circumstances. He mentioned that Belgium is fostering cooperation on climate change as a crosscutting theme, which includes education as a vital component of this partnership. He concluded acknowledging the role of the Palestine Authority in leading actions on climate change, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory reports. Rima Abu Middain, Team Leader, Natural Capital, UN Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted the work of UNDP in eradicating poverty and social exclusion in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She noted the allocation of around US$122 million to protecting natural resources and promoting resilience in the State of Palestine. She stressed initiatives since 2009 to mainstream climate concerns in development policies, lamenting they have been constrained by weak institutional arrangements. Nedal Katbeh-Bader, Advisor for Climate Change, Environment Quality Authority, State of Palestine, provided an overview of the State of Palestine’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which focuses on adaptation. He explained how the Israeli occupation exacerbates the difficulties of tackling adaptation and mitigation effectively, which increases human vulnerability. Mahmoud Abu Ebeid, Climate Change Advisor, Ricardo-AEA, offered a technical perspective, presenting Palestine’s progress in the short term, including: the development of a national GHG inventory; mitigation options outlined in the Initial National Communication Report (INCR) submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat; and vulnerability assessment and adaptation in all sectors. In the ensuing discussion, participants considered: the importance of regional cooperation for implementing the NDC; solutions for dumping industrial waste; and challenges to accessing technology and finance. Panelists highlighted that, despite advancements in climate action, the Israeli occupation delays implementation. One panelist also drew attention to the significant difficulties faced by Palestine in accessing the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding. From L-R: Mahmoud Abu Ebeid, Climate Change Advisor, Ricardo-AEA; Rima Abu Middain, Team Leader, Natural Capital, UNDP; Rima Khalaf, ESCWA;  Adalah Atira, Chairperson of Palestinian Environment Quality Authority; Peter Wittoeck, Head of Delegation, Belgium; Lars Ronnås, Climate Change Ambassador, Sweden; and Nedal Katbeh-Bader, Advisor for Climate Change, Environment Quality Authrotiy, State of Palestine Rima Khalaf, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), affirmed that climate change is also about human rights. Adalah Atira, Chairperson of Palestinian Environment Quality Authority, recalled that “we are among the first 15 champions in ratifying the Paris Agreement.” Lars Ronnås, Climate Change Ambassador, Sweden, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the Palestinian cause and sustainable development efforts. Peter Wittoeck, Head of Delegation, Belgium, affirmed that “we are here to help Palestinians comply with their obligations under the Paris Agreement.” Contacts: Otto Simonett  (moderator)| otto.simonnet@zoinet.org More Information: www.zoinet.org About | 7 Nov | 8 Nov | 9 Nov | 10 Nov | 11 Nov | 12 Nov | 14 Nov | 15 Nov | 16 Nov | 17 Nov | 18 Nov | Summary The Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) © <enb@iisd.org> is a special publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). This issue has been written by Karen Alvarenga, Katherine Browne, Bo-Alex Fredvik, Tallash Kantai, Jennifer Lenhart, Ph.D., Kate Louw, Miquel Muñoz Cabre, Nicole de Paula, and Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D. The Digital Editors are Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin. The Editor is Elena Kosolapova, Ph.D. <elena@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The opinions expressed in ENBOTS are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENBOTS may be used in non-commercial publications only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>. Electronic versions of issues of ENBOTS from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, can be found on the IISD Reporting Services website at http://enb.iisd.org/climate/COP22/enbots/. The ENBOTS Team at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, can be contacted by e-mail at <tallash@iisd.org>. Specific funding for coverage of the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, has been provided by the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea of Italy, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia IISD Reporting Services is grateful to the many donors of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) and recognizes the following as core contributors to the ENB: the European Union, the Government of Switzerland (the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)), the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Support for the Bulletin during 2016 is provided by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN International, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of France, the Wallonia, Québec, and the International Organization of La Francophonie/Institute for Sustainable Development of La Francophonie (IOF/IFDD). Resources for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Website for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Website for Side Events and Exhibits at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Schedule of Side Events at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Overview Schedule for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Host Country Website IISD ENB/ENB+ Meeting Coverage 44th Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-44), 17-20 October 2016, United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok, Thailand Bonn Climate Change Conference - May 2016, 16-26 May 2016, Bonn, Germany High-Level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, 22 April 2016, UN Headquarters, New York IPCC-43, 11-13 April 2016, Headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015, 29 November - 13 December 2015, Paris, France Coverage of Side Events at the Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015, 29 November - 11 December 2015, Paris, France Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2015, 19-23 October 2015, Bonn, Germany IPCC-42, 5-8 October 2015, Dubrovnik, Croatia Bonn Climate Change Conference - August 2015, 31 August - 4 September 2015, Bonn, Germany Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2015, 1-11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany Coverage of Side Events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2015, 1-11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany 9th Meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, 24-26 March 2015, Songdo, Republic of Korea IPCC-41, 24-27 February 2015, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya Geneva Climate Change Conference - February 2015, 8-13 February 2015, Geneva, Switzerland Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014, 1-14 December 2014, Lima, Peru Coverage of Side Events at the Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014, 1-12 December 2014, Lima, Peru IPCC-40, 27-31 October 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2014, 20-25 October 2014, Bonn, Germany UN Climate Summit 2014 - “Catalyzing Action”, 23 September 2014, UN Headquarters, New York Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2014, 4-15 June 2014, Bonn, Germany 12th Session of the IPCC Working Group III (WGIII-12) and IPCC-39, 7-12 April 2014, Berlin, Germany Bonn Climate Change Conference - March 2014, 10-14 March 2014, Bonn, Germany WGII-10 and IPCC-38, 25-29 March 2014, Yokohama, Japan IPCC-37, 14-17 October 2013, Batumi, Georgia IPCC-36, 23-26 September 2013, Stockholm, Sweden Additional IISD Resources CLIMATE-L - A Mailing List for News on Climate Change Policy SDG Knowledge Hub - An online resource center for news and commentary regarding the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Linkages Update - Bi-weekly International Environment and Sustainable Development News © 2016, IISD Reporting Services. 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On Wednesday, 16 November, the UN Climate Change Conference continued in Marrakech, Morocco. The second part of the facilitative dialogue on enhancing ambition and support took place in the morning. In the afternoon, the second biennial high-level ministerial dialogue on climate finance convened. Throughout the day, contact groups and informal consultations took place under the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), and the joint high-level segment continued. In the afternoon, informals also took place under the COP Presidency on the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1), and under the COP on entry into force of the Paris Agreement and the convening of CMA 1. In the evening, the CMA plenary convened. Following adjournment of the resumed CMA opening plenary, informal consultations under the CMA continued late into the night. A webcast of the joint high-level segment is available at: http://unfccc.cloud.streamworld.de/webcast/joint-high-level-segment-5th-meeting-of-the-cop-an. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth. For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions on our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage page. High-Level Segment View of the dais during the high-level segment Barbara Hendricks, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany Zhenhua Xie, Special Representative on Climate Change Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission, China Rolando Gabriel De Barros Barreto Acha, Minister of Environment, Paraguay Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Cheong, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Disaster and Beach Management, Mauritius Marlies Amann-Marxer, Minister of Infrastructure, Environment and Sport, Liechtenstein  José Sarney Filho, Minister of Environment, Brazil  Sharon Dijksma, Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, the Netherlands Facilitative Dialogue on Enhancing Ambition and Support Panelists on the podium during the session Joydeep Gupta, Moderator Louise Métivier, Chief Negotiator for Climate Change, Canada Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia Ravi Prasad, Joint Secretary on Climate Change, India Amjad Abdulla, Maldives Fang Liu, Secretary General, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Lisa Te Heuheu, Civil Society Representative Informal Consultations and Contact Groups throughout the Day COP contact group on matters relating to finance: report of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) and review of the functions of the SCF CMP informal consultations on matters relating to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) COP informal consultations on linkages between the Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism of the Convention COP contact group on matters relating to finance: report of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to the COP and guidance to the GEF Second Biennial High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Finance View of the dais during the ministerial dialogue, which was themed 'A multi-stakeholder approach to mobilization and delivery of adaptation finance' Aziz Mekouar, COP 22/CMP 12 Presidency Mohamed Boussaid, Minister of Finance and Economy, Morocco Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly Moderator Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute Robert Orr, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji  Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank Group Ji Xie, Director General, National Development and Reform Commission, China CMA Plenary The UNFCCC Secretariat meets on the dais before the start of the session Salaheddine Mezouar, COP 22/CMP 12 President Diego Pacheco Balanza, Bolivia, speaking on behalf of the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Manasvi Srisodapol, Thailand, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Nicole Wilke, EU Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Delegates huddle during the session Civil Society Demonstrations Members of civil society advocate for renewable energy in Africa Members of civil society advocate for the right to a stable climate Using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections for the extinction of species, members of civil society question if the human race is also threatened Around the Venue John Kerry, US Secretary of State, addresses COP 22 participants and press, underlining the American people's commitment to climate action Jonathan Pershing, US Special Envoy for Climate Change Members of the media attend the address Naoko Ishii, CEO, GEF, launches the Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT), a new fund to support developing countries in meeting transparency requirements under the Paris Agreement Delegates confer between sessions Nicola Tollin, Executive Director, Program on Urban Resilience RESURBE, speaks with a delegate Frank Carruet, Belgium, Marek Ziółkowski, Poland, and Lidia Wojtal, Poland Sergio Bergman, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Argentina, and Soledad Aguilar, Argentina Adnan Amin, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) UN Security coordinate throughout the day A delegate takes notes during a session

The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Wednesday, 16 November 2016: Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Climate Resilience for Agriculture and Food Security and Zero Hunger Pan-Canadian Climate Cooperation: High-Level Conference of the Parties Dialogue on Provincial and Federal Climate Action in Canada Ecosystem-based Approach for Climate Change Adaptation in the Maldives IISD Reporting Services, through its ENBOTS Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Presented by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO) The session was moderated by Rattan Lal, Ohio State University. Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate and Energy, underscored that agriculture can simultaneously address poverty, hunger and climate change. He noted that numerous countries have included agriculture in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Aziz Akhannouch, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco, said that those involved in Africa’s agriculture sector are the most affected by climate change, with 70% of the population linked to agriculture. He underscored that existing climate finance is insufficient to address food insecurity. Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France, emphasized that climate solutions must address agriculture and food security or they are not solutions. He stressed agriculture’s dual role in mitigation and adaptation, noting that organic matter in soils both sequesters carbon and increases productivity. José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, stressed that climate change poses a fundamental threat to food security, noting that 800 million suffer from hunger in the world, with a further 120 million at risk. Pointing to the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) initiative , Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone, highlighted the role of local agriculture and said the private sector should embrace it. Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to financing climate-related activities. Mohammed Badraoui, Director General, National Agronomic Research Institute, Morocco, underscored the importance of the AAA initiative’s cross-cutting elements, including technology transfer, capacity building and South-South cooperation. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Natural Resources and Environment, FAO, introduced the FAO’s Global Framework for Action to Cope with Water Scarcity in Agriculture in the Context of Climate Change, which draws on the sector’s existing initiatives, tools and best practices. Pietro Sebastiani, Director General, Development Cooperation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, in which 132 signatory cities commit to the development of sustainable, resilient and inclusive food chains. Jean-Baptiste Dollé, French Livestock Institute, highlighted the Life Beef Carbon project, which aims to reduce European beef production’s carbon footprint by 15% in the next decade compared to 2015. Johnson Boanuh, Director of Environment, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), launched ECOWAS’ Promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agro-Ecology Transition in West Africa initiative, which aims to enhance food security and resilience in rural communities. Amira Gornass, Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), called for an integration of food security and nutrition concerns into climate change policies. Tabaré Aguerre, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Uruguay, noted Uruguay’s innovative initiative on soil management through the universal soil loss equation. Charles Ogang, President, Uganda National Farmers Federation, emphasized the strategic importance of food security as part of climate change solutions. Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, drew attention to the difficulty of measuring and aggregating adaptation. During the discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: depletion of natural resources as a threat to global security; strategies to promote linkages between agricultural investments, policies and practice; and land-grabbing as a driver of food insecurity. From L-R: Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone; Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate Action and Energy; Aziz Akhannouch, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco; Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France; José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO; and Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner, Climate and Energy, highlighted the role of EU agriculture policy in increasing climate resilience in rural areas. Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, France, highlighted France’s collaboration with FAO. Aziz Akhannouch, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco, underscored the need to put agriculture at the heart of climate negotiations. José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, underscored that climate change is a cornerstone of FAO’s work, noting that FAO has executed more than 500 programmes related to climate change. Laura Tuck, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank, called for a redirection of current agricultural subsidies into climate-smart agriculture projects. Emmanuel Faber, CEO, Danone, highlighted a project with 30,000 farmers in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa who get carbon credits for sustainable agriculture practices. Rattan Lal, Ohio State University, moderated the discussion panel. Room view during the high-level segment Mohammed Badraoui, Director-General, National Agronomic Research Institute, Morocco, noted that the AAA initiative is core to six of the 17 SDGs. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Natural Resources and Environment, FAO, highlighted that 90% of NDCs refer to agriculture and 70% to water. Pietro Sebastiani, Director-General, Development Cooperation, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of sustainable diets and nutrition. Johnson Boanuh, Director of Environment, ECOWAS, said the Promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agro-Ecology Transition in West Africa initiative targets 25 million households by 2025. Jean-Baptiste Dollé, French Livestock Institute, pointed to the fact that more than 2,000 farmers are involved in the Life Beef Carbon project. Tabaré Aguerre, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Uruguay, underscored that it will be impossible to meet the food demands of 9.6 billion people without increasing food production. Amira Gornass, Chair, CFS, said that CFS must bring together diverse stakeholders to develop policy guidance. Charles Ogang, President, Uganda National Farmers Federation, stated that world leaders must “walk the talk” of the Paris Agreement. Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, said the scientific community is developing a methodology to measure adaptation. Contacts: Rattan Lal | lal.1@osu.edu More Information: Agriculture and Food Security Action Event Climate Resilience for Agriculture and Food Security and Zero HungerPresented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank and the World Food Programme (WFP) This side event, moderated by Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, World Resource Institute (WRI), concentrated on efforts combining the fights against hunger and climate change, focusing on countries’ experiences, and showcasing the importance of data and financial instruments in facilitating adaptation. David Nabarro, UN Secretary-General’s Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, noted that the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) on zero hunger by 2030 is crucial for achieving all SDGs, and secure economic development. Highlighting the challenge to support investments and climate adaptation, he stressed the need for people-centered, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agricultural systems. Noting that erratic weather patterns, food insecurity and ongoing conflicts make living conditions unbearable for the poorest of the poor in Afghanistan, HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General, National Environmental Protection Agency, Afghanistan, called for engaging farmers, pastoralists and all stakeholders in a participatory process to address existing and future challenges. Calling for the promotion of integrated farming to combat food insecurity, Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji, underscored, inter alia, the need for: capacity building; utilization of technology; and preservation of local knowledge, focusing on social rather than economic gains. Emphasizing that food security has to do with both access to and supply of food, Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica, highlighted food waste, noting that 10% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US and UK come from the production, transport and preparation of food that is never consumed. Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group, noted the need to make agriculture more attractive, bringing youth into the sector, scaling up investments and facilitating finance. Noting that 80% of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are linked to SDG 2, José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, underscored the need for increased finance for the agricultural sector, urging support from relevant agents in a position to provide the necessary funds, such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, called for additional support to: small farmers, focusing on climate-related finance to manage risks, as well as early warning systems; women, noting that when you support women, you invest in the community; and youth, in order to “capacitate” future farmers. Highlighting climate change as a multiplier and accelerator of risks, Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, WFP, discussed WFP’s work on early warning systems, enabling anticipation of disasters, early interventions and mitigation of negative impacts.   Stressing that the agricultural sector is responsible for 25% of global emissions, but does not attract more than 3% of overall climate finance, Ethel Sennhauser, Director, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank, underscored the need to continue raising awareness, and use the NDCs as an opportunity to show that the agricultural sector can be part of the solution to climate change. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: the role of traditional knowledge as complementary to that of science; investments in the service providers and the community towards climate-smart agriculture; the potential to use old technologies in adaptation efforts; and human rights considerations in food and agriculture, as well as ways to incorporate them in the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). From L-R: HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General of National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan; Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji; Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica; Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI; and Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group HRH Prince Mostapha Zaher, Director General of National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan, invited climate change deniers to visit Afghanistan and witness glaciers’ melting. David Nabarro, UN Secretary-General’s Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, noted that agricultural sectors are leading elements of NDCs. Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Fiji, stressed that “the ways we live and cooperate are going to change.” Luis Felipe Arauz Cavallini, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica, noted that “we tend to see the impact of climate change on food security in a linear way, while interactions are far more complex.” Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States Group, discussed ways to make agriculture more attractive to financing institutions. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, said that “development is not something we do for people or to people, development is what people do for themselves.” Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI, noted that the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development require a fundamental paradigm shift to more resilient, sustainable and inclusive production and consumption patterns. From L-R: Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD; José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO; Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI; Ethel Sennhauser, Director, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank; and Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and CIS countries, WFP José Graziano da Silva, Director General, FAO, said that the impact of food waste is equivalent to that of deforestation. Carlo Scaramella, Deputy Regional Director, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and CIS countries, WFP, urged for sophisticated systems at the global, regional, national and community levels to achieve better management of risks. Ethel Sennhauser, Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank, underscored that “no other sector than agriculture can claim it can heal the planet.” Contacts: Paula Caballero (Moderator) | Paula.Caballero@wri.org Julia Wolf (Coordinator) | Julia.Wolf@fao.org More Information: www.fao.org/home/en www.ifad.org www.worldbank.org www.wfp.org Pan-Canadian Climate Cooperation: High-Level Conference of the Parties Dialogue on Provincial and Federal Climate Action in CanadaPresented by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Scott Vaughan, President and CEO, IISD, moderated this event. Eric Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, said the success of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer came from citizen action, political leadership, and innovative power of markets and business. He highlighted that after the US election, there is uncertainty in the climate arena, but called for optimism, noting that 2015 had the most investment in solar and wind. He called for political leadership, noting that if the US is not able to lead, China is ready to do so and will need support from countries like Canada. He stressed that addressing climate change is an opportunity for new jobs, acknowledging that transition to low-carbon development may be challenging at the outset. Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, noted that the Province has its own carbon pricing architecture in place, including tax rebates and investments in renewable energy. She highlighted that the Province has capped emissions from the oil and gas sector, and underscored that the world must actively listen to working people in order to meet the challenges of transitioning to low-carbon development pathways. David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec, noted that a lot of work on climate was being done by intranational states. He pointed to partnerships with the city of Guadalajara, Mexico, on a cap-and-trade system, as well as with cities in China; noting that the role of intranational states is being recognized through the Climate Group. He drew attention to the adoption of the zero emission standards for vehicles; and noted that all the investment in cap-and-trade is itself leveraging further investment in green development. Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan, noted that the Province is geographically large with a population of 1.15 million people, and called for greater global collaboration to address climate change. He highlighted the Province’s technology innovation in the agricultural industry, which accounts for about a third of Saskatchewan’s exports, expounding on specific research and development advancements in the sector. Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario, noted the Province’s interest in working with others to address climate change in a serious way. He stressed the use of market mechanisms, and provided examples of Ontario’s actions, including the circular economy bill and the cap-and-trade bill, stating that these will be instrumental to decarbonizing economies. Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton, said that more than three quarters of Canadians live in urban areas, and welcomed the involvement of municipal governments in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. He underscored the need for carbon pricing, and noted that local governments are critical actors in implementing these policies. Stressing the leadership, innovation and partnerships of local governments, he underscored that local and indigenous voices are critical to addressing climate change. He noted that local leaders in the US should continue to work on climate change even if the federal government does not. Underlining climate action as an opportunity for the country, Catherine McKenna, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Canada, highlighted the efforts made at the local level, including the phasing out of coal in Ontario, zero-emissions vehicles in Quebec and a proposed cap on oil sands emissions in Alberta. She said that COP 22 should celebrate the historic achievements made during 2016, including the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the ICAO announcement, and then make concrete commitments to address climate at the national level. Natan Obed, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, stressed the need for Indigenous Peoples to work with the government on adaptation and mitigation, but noted the distance between the government and the Indigenous Peoples in terms of policy and legislative space. He underscored the expectation that Indigenous Peoples will have a sustained and mutual partnership with the government at climate meetings. From L-R: Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta; David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development; Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan; Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario; and Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, noted that the ideal system to address climate change would be based on an economy-wide carbon price, and reinvestment of the revenues into the sectors that need it most. Scott Vaughan, IISD, moderated this event. Eric Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, urged adopting simpler language in environment discussions, calling for “kitchen conversations on climate,” and noting the name change from “UNEP” to “UN Environment.” Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, Alberta, with David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec Catherine McKenna, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Canada David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Quebec, noted significant investments in clean energy and carbon pricing, highlighting that this has spurred jobs growth in the province. Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment, Saskatchewan, noted ongoing climate change mitigation work in coal-fired power plants and in the reduction of methane emissions. Glen Murray, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ontario, noted that the Quebec-Ontario partnership is a leader in climate action, and underscored the reduction in energy costs in industrial manufacturing from the use of reused resources. Contacts: Scott Vaughan (Moderator) | svaughan@iisd.org More Information: www.iisd.org www.ieta.org Ecosystem-based Approach for Climate Change Adaptation in the Maldives Presented by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS), the Maldives and the University of Milano-Bicocca Francesco La Camera, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Italy, highlighted the importance of working together with small island developing States (SIDS), which must be a priority in addressing climate change. He noted the Maldives faces challenges such as ocean acidification and coral reefs degradation. He underscored that the natural changes taking place are beyond the country’s resilience. Abdullahi Majeed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Maldives, noted adaptation cost can be reduced by using biodiversity and traditional knowledge. He outlined the Maldives’ initiatives to protect biodiversity, including the creation of a marine protected area (MPA). Majeed underscored that coral bleaching affects livelihoods, economy and biodiversity.  Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, noted his University’s Marine Research and High Education Center (MaRHE) in the Maldives, bringing together academics from all over the world. He said to halt coral bleaching and coral diseases, we need to gather data and investigate the solutions, including biomolecular ecology and coral defence mechanisms.  Ahmed Waheed, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Maldives, outlined water security challenges faced by the Maldives, which will be increased by climate change, including: water scarcity; traditional dependency on shallow wells for multipurpose water use; water-borne diseases; flooding; groundwater pollution; and saltwater intrusion. He outlined integrated water resource management measures implemented in the Maldives to tackle such challenges.  Salvatore Mazzola, National Research Centre (CNR), Italy, highlighted the impacts of acoustic pollution on marine life, individual animals and entire species. He underscored research and measurements being carried out to further understand the impacts of sound frequency and intensiveness, as well as their effects in the Maldives, the Mediterranean and the Arctic. Valerio Perusini, e-Geos, Italy, noted that Earth observation satellites support climate change monitoring, measuring both climate causes and effects. He said that remote sensing and pixel dimension combined with temporal resolution provide accurate measures and higher resolution of data. Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fiji, said oceans define the culture and the very being of SIDS populations, delivering livelihoods for families. She noted that her team has supported 120 communities in many SIDS to promote climate resilience and fishery resources. From L-R: Valerio Perusini, e-Geos, Italy; Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fijj; Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy; Ahmed Waheed, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives; and Salvatore Mazzola, CNR, Italy Abdullahi Majeed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives, emphasized that actions must be implemented combining the Rio Conventions and SDGs. Ahmed Waheed, Director General, Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives, outlined vulnerability indicators in the Maldives. Francesco La Camera, Director General, Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy, highlighted the Italian tradition of working in partnership with SIDS. Underscoring work on the ground, Elisabeth Holland, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Fijj, noted that oceans define the culture of the SIDS populations. Paolo Galli, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, noted the structural complexity of coral reefs and that they are the habitat for numerous species. Contacts: Vignola Emmanuela | Vignola.Emmanuela@minammbiente.it More Information: www.marinesciences.unimib.it About | 7 Nov | 8 Nov | 9 Nov | 10 Nov | 11 Nov | 12 Nov | 14 Nov | 15 Nov | 16 Nov | 17 Nov | 18 Nov | Summary The Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) © <enb@iisd.org> is a special publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). This issue has been written by Karen Alvarenga, Katherine Browne, Bo-Alex Fredvik, Tallash Kantai, Jennifer Lenhart, Ph.D., Kate Louw, Miquel Muñoz Cabre, Nicole de Paula, and Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D. The Digital Editors are Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin. The Editor is Elena Kosolapova, Ph.D. <elena@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The opinions expressed in ENBOTS are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENBOTS may be used in non-commercial publications only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>. Electronic versions of issues of ENBOTS from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, can be found on the IISD Reporting Services website at http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop22/enbots/. The ENBOTS Team at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, can be contacted by e-mail at <tallash@iisd.org>. Specific funding for coverage of the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016, has been provided by the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea of Italy, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) © <enb@iisd.org> is a special publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). This issue has been written by Karen Alvarenga, Katherine Browne, Bo-Alex Fredvik, Tallash Kantai, Jennifer Lenhart, Ph.D., Kate Louw, Miquel Muñoz Cabre, Nicole de Paula, and Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D. The Digital Editors are Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin. The Editor is Elena Kosolapova, Ph.D. <elena@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The opinions expressed in ENBOTS are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and funders. Excerpts from ENBOTS may be used in non-commercial publications only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Se.png" alt="FOEN" /> IISD Reporting Services is grateful to the many donors of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) and recognizes the following as core contributors to the ENB: the European Union, the Government of Switzerland (the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)), the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Support for the Bulletin during 2016 is provided by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SWAN International, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French has been provided by the Government of France, the Wallonia, Québec, and the International Organization of La Francophonie/Institute for Sustainable Development of La Francophonie (IOF/IFDD). Resources for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Website for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Website for Side Events and Exhibits at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Schedule of Side Events at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Overview Schedule for the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016 Host Country Website IISD ENB/ENB+ Meeting Coverage 44th Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-44), 17-20 October 2016, United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok, Thailand Bonn Climate Change Conference - May 2016, 16-26 May 2016, Bonn, Germany High-Level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, 22 April 2016, UN Headquarters, New York IPCC-43, 11-13 April 2016, Headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015, 29 November - 13 December 2015, Paris, France Coverage of Side Events at the Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015, 29 November - 11 December 2015, Paris, France Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2015, 19-23 October 2015, Bonn, Germany IPCC-42, 5-8 October 2015, Dubrovnik, Croatia Bonn Climate Change Conference - August 2015, 31 August - 4 September 2015, Bonn, Germany Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2015, 1-11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany Coverage of Side Events at the Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2015, 1-11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany 9th Meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, 24-26 March 2015, Songdo, Republic of Korea IPCC-41, 24-27 February 2015, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya Geneva Climate Change Conference - February 2015, 8-13 February 2015, Geneva, Switzerland Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014, 1-14 December 2014, Lima, Peru Coverage of Side Events at the Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014, 1-12 December 2014, Lima, Peru IPCC-40, 27-31 October 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2014, 20-25 October 2014, Bonn, Germany UN Climate Summit 2014 - “Catalyzing Action”, 23 September 2014, UN Headquarters, New York Bonn Climate Change Conference - June 2014, 4-15 June 2014, Bonn, Germany 12th Session of the IPCC Working Group III (WGIII-12) and IPCC-39, 7-12 April 2014, Berlin, Germany Bonn Climate Change Conference - March 2014, 10-14 March 2014, Bonn, Germany WGII-10 and IPCC-38, 25-29 March 2014, Yokohama, Japan IPCC-37, 14-17 October 2013, Batumi, Georgia IPCC-36, 23-26 September 2013, Stockholm, Sweden Additional IISD Resources CLIMATE-L - A Mailing List for News on Climate Change Policy SDG Knowledge Hub - An online resource center for news and commentary regarding the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Linkages Update - Bi-weekly International Environment and Sustainable Development News © 2016, IISD Reporting Services. 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The following side events were covered by ENBOTS on Tuesday, 15 November 2016: Taking the Clean Energy Transformation from Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to Action High-Level Event on Sustainable Economic Transition and Economic Diversification Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation and Experience Sharing Carbon Markets and Carbon Pricing in Asia Sand and Dust Storms SDG 17: Building Capacity for 2030 Agenda through Climate Action Solutions for Regional Implementation Advancing Global Goals on Forests & Climate Change IISD Reporting Services, through its ENBOTS Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage from the Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis and Liz Rubin For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Taking the Clean Energy Transformation from Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to ActionPresented by the International Council for Sustainable Energy (ICSE), European Business Council for Sustainable Energy (e5), and Global Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Institute Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), moderated the session. In his keynote speech Lord Nicholas Stern, London School of Economics (LSE), underscored the need to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in the next 20 years, as well as avoiding lock-in in carbon-intensive infrastructure, as critical to reach net zero GHG emissions in 60-70 years. He said that in order to achieve this, CCS has to be considered seriously and be a big part of the response. He emphasized that, by mid-century, 4-5 Gt of CO2 reductions through CCS will be needed. In his introduction, Brad Page, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Global CCS Institute, referring to the newly released 2016 Global Status Report on CCS underscored that CCS is a key technology for addressing climate change. He noted that there are 38 large-scale CCS facilities with a capacity of 70 MtCO2/year in the pipeline, with 21 in operation or under construction. He stressed there are many industrial applications for which CCS is the only mitigation option. Maarten Neelis, Ecofys, stressed that one year after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, national policies have made little progress. He emphasized the need for energy efficiency, a shift away from fossil fuels, and carbon pricing. Kane Thornton, Chief Executive, Clean Energy Council of Australia, said renewables such as wind and solar will continue to be deployed because in many countries they are the lowest cost options. He outlined challenges such as the lack of long-term policies and grid integration challenges. Grady Crosby, Vice-president, Johnson Controls, explained that his company’s sustainability strategy is based on three pillars: meeting customers’ sustainability needs; enhancing sustainable operations; and sustainability of the supply chain. James Wolf, President, Global Policy Associates, stressed the need for CCS, noting that in the developing world 70% of energy will be from fossil fuels by 2040. He underscored enhanced methane recovery with CCS as a win-win technology with climate and environmental benefits. Christoph Bals, Policy Director, Germanwatch, described the low-carbon development plan for Germany as a re-industrialization process, noting that if the US steps out as a competitor, that would be good for the German clean energy industry. Kolja Kuse, President, Clean Carbon Technology, emphasized the use of carbon fiber composites derived from algal oil as a way to replace cement, steel and aluminum, establishing carbon neutrality in the building sector and allowing for carbon sequestration. He estimated this could achieve emission reductions of 4 GT CO2 per year. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, among others: the need for a carbon price; savings as a driver for industry action; how to include carbon fibers in national plans; life-cycle analysis of carbon fiber materials; and the consistent underestimation of renewables in International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts. Britta Waschl, European Business Council for Sustainable Energy (e5), closed the session by calling for ambitious action now. Kolja Kuse, President, Clean Carbon Technology, explained how to make the building materials sector carbon-neutral by using carbon fibers derived from algae processed with solar energy, combined with natural materials such as granite, and disposed of in a manner providing carbon capture for up to 10,000 years. Brad Page, CEO, Global CCS Institute, compared renewable energy with CCS investment since 2006 and said that CCS investment needs to be ramped up. Maarten Neelis, Ecofys, said national climate plans and projected fossil fuel growth do not match in many countries. Christoph Bals, Policy Director, Germanwatch, underscored the use of carbon fiber to reduce both carbon emissions and concentrations. Kane Thornton, Chief Executive, Clean Energy Council of Australia, said short-term policies have created a challenging investment environment for renewable energy projects. James Wolf, President, Global Policy Associates, said in the near term only CCS can control carbon emissions. Contacts: Lisa Jacobson | ljacobson@bcse.org Mark Bonner| mark.bonner@globalccsinstitute.com Kolja Kuse | kolja.kuse@e5.org More Information: www.bcse.org High-Level Event on Sustainable Economic Transition and Economic DiversificationPresented by the Presidency of the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 22) Noting that the Paris Agreement is not an end in itself but a framework for “us to work together and act to honor our shared future,” Nizar Baraka, President of the Scientific Committee, on behalf of the COP 22 President, noted the need for a clear long-term plan, concrete actions and programmes, and timelines for these in order to ensure an equitable transition to low-carbon development. Tomas Anker Christensen, on behalf of the President of the UN General Assembly, noted that the sustainable transition to low-carbon economies and economic diversification will be vital to implementing the Paris Agreement, drawing attention to the need to find a balance between the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition in order to get the mix right for individual countries. Welcoming the “durable, flexible and credible” Paris Agreement, David Nabarro, speaking on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, stressed the need to move away from fossils fuels and towards low emission development, calling for national and regional policy decisions to take into account the commitments contained in the Paris Agreement. Tomasz Chruszczow, Chair, Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), moderated a discussion session. Andrei Marcu summarized a background paper, which notes that, while some countries are advanced in transformative economic pathways, others will require assistance, and highlights the need for buy-in from stakeholders working on climate change and sustainable development. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), said that even before the Paris Agreement his country had policies in place to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, adding that: climate action is being mainstreamed into all sectors; the government is working with the private sector to achieve green growth; and there is a need to turn NDCs into investment instruments. A representative of the European Commission noted that the EU has decades of experience in green technology innovations, stressing the importance of the low-carbon transition and noting that there is no conflict between economic growth and environmental protection. He highlighted an EU decision to spend 20% of its budget on climate action.  Hafez Ghanem, World Bank, outlined the World Bank’s commitment to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including through: increasing financing by a third; increasing adaptation support; supporting adaptation and mitigation policies; crowding in private sector finance; and supporting collective action in the region. Frank Rijsberman, Head, Global Green Growth Initiative (GGGI), described the work of the institute, including on assisting countries in developing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and on building in-country capacity to develop bankable projects. Stressing that “you fail if you don’t act when you are faced with change,” Norway highlighted that his country is moving to green competitiveness, and noted that there is no silver bullet to save the climate and thus it needs to be mainstreamed. Underlining that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities will inform approaches to economic diversification, South Africa noted that the socio-economic challenges of implementing response measures must be minimized, and that the Forum on Response Measures should conduct assessments on the effects of response measures on third parties, particularly developing countries. Noting that a just transition of the workforce will require appropriate training in order to contribute to the growth of a low carbon economy, the Maldives noted the need for legislative, economic and social changes in order to achieve the Paris Agreement, stressing that some countries will need assistance to implement the Agreement, and underscoring the involvement of all stakeholders to drive ownership, which will in turn drive implementation. Noting that “there are as many paths as there are parties,” Poland shared his country’s path of economic growth decoupled from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Singapore said his country has moved away from being a labor-based economy and has diversified into a knowledge-based economy. He stated that energy efficiency will continue to be key, noting that the country is working on floating solar PV. He stressed that mitigation actions should not undermine trade. He noted that response measures need to take into account the special situation of certain states, and reiterated his commitment to meeting the mandate on response measures. In the roundtable discussion, Solway Group stressed the need to seek convergence on domestic carbon policy measures, and called for the development of global regulatory measures in order to achieve specific goals. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) noted that the member countries are impacted by both climate change and response measures to address climate change, highlighting the need to move from rhetoric to implementation and noting that the obligations and commitments under the UNFCCC lie with developed countries. Ghana noted that experiences shared speak to the fact that countries can diversify, and noted the importance of an understanding of what transitioning to low-carbon economies means for third parties. Ecuador stated that the country has reached 90% renewable energy in ten years, and noted the need to ensure financial support for transitioning to low-carbon economies. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) noted that to have an equitable transition, and stressed that there must be investment in diversification plans to ensure that workers are not left behind. The World Business Council on Sustainable Development noted the COP 22 Low-Emissions Solutions Conference demonstrates that the world has moved into the implementation phase. Sarah Baashan, Co-Chair, Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), stressed that the global narrative on low-carbon growth has changed because the domestic narratives are dynamic, and various countries are able to share their experiences with transitioning to low-carbon development. In the closing session, Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia, noted that the Paris Agreement is legally binding, and called for innovative, win-win solutions in diversification that are accessible and beneficial to all. He stressed the need for innovative partnerships to address the challenges posed by diversification, including the loss of jobs. Jonathan Pershing, US, noted that the UNFCCC is a platform to exchange ideas, set goals and norms and evaluate the adequacy of the responses; and underscored that although there will be constraints in the transition process, there is ongoing work through bodies like the World Bank that shows that this is possible. Closing the meeting, Baraka called for participatory processes, balancing the pillars of sustainable development, and people as the center of the development agenda. From L-R: David Nabarro, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Nizar Baraka, President, COP 22 Scientific Committee; and Tomas Anker Christensen, Chef de Cabinet, Office of the President of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly Tomasz Chruszczow, Chair, Subsidiary Body for Implementation Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates Nizar Baraka, President of the Scientific Committee, speaking on behalf of the COP 22 President David Nabarro, speaking on behalf of the UN Secretary-General Tomas Anker Christensen, speaking on behalf of the President of the UN General Assembly Andrei Marcu, Advisor to the COP 22 Presidency Mahama Ayariga, Minister, Ministry for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Maldives Masagos Zulkifli, Minister, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore Sarah Baashan, Co-Chair, Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, Secertary-General, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Khalid Al-Falih, Minister, Ministry of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia Hafez Ghanem, World Bank Jonathan Pershing, Special Envoy for Climate Change, US Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO, Solvay Group Contacts: Fati Aboulfaraj (Coordinator) | fatimazahra.aboulfaraj.06@gmail.com More Information: High-Level Event on Sustainable Economic Transition and Economic Diversification Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation and Experience SharingPresented by the Climate Change Strategy Department of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China, the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), China, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) This side event, co-moderated by Xie Ji, Director-General of Department of Climate Change, NDRC, China, and Frank Rijsberman, Director General, GGGI, discussed the implementation of East Asia countries’ NDCs in the post-Paris Agreement era. Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative on Climate Change, China, noted that following the ratification of the Paris Agreement countries need to be held accountable to their responsibilities. He underscored the need for transformation of development modalities at the national level, highlighting potential collaboration on green development, as well as the importance of regional carbon markets. Underscoring the long history of cooperation between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, Cho KyeungKyu, Minister, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, emphasized, among others: emissions trading schemes at the provincial and national levels; carbon markets; and sharing of best practices on low-carbon development, also at the community level. Emphasizing the cooperation platform among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, which will enable technical synergies contributing to emissions reduction, Kouichi  Yamamoto, Minister, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, underscored the importance of concrete measures, including on emissions trading schemes and renewable energy, to deepen mutual understanding. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates, highlighted three key messages to ensure NDC implementation, namely: integration of policies in the national agenda; inclusion of the private sector, academia and all relevant stakeholders; and negotiation of the requirements, looking not just at costs but also at opportunities. Stressing that current commitments do not suffice to achieve the determined goals, Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and tenth Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, underscored: carbon pricing as a critical market instrument to curb emissions and induce investments to low-carbon alternatives; emissions trading schemes and carbon taxes; result-based finance mechanisms; capacity building and regional knowledge exchange; and non-market instruments, including performance-oriented regulations, licencing, labelling and certification. Rijsberman moderated the second part of the event, highlighting, inter alia: green growth with social inclusivity and environmental sustainability; GGGI’s technical expertise and sharing of knowledge; and identification of opportunities for collaborative work, including South-South cooperation. Tian Chengchuan, NDRC, China, on behalf of Xie Ji, Director-General of Department of Climate Change, NDRC, China, provided an overview of China’s low-carbon development pathway, focusing on the goals and main contents of its NDC. He highlighted eight key tasks relating to low-carbon energy revolution, industrial systems, cities and towns, regional development and technology innovation, as well as operation of national emissions trading schemes, capacity support and international cooperation. Discussing the Green Partnership among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, Kim Sang-Hyup, Former Senior Secretary to President for Green Growth, Office of the President, Republic of Korea, noted that the imminent agenda is on fine dusts, while the rising agenda addresses the Asia Super Grid, an interconnected power grid going from Mongolia to Japan. Noting the pivotal role of China in green finance, Scott Vaughan, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), IISD, underscored the role of infrastructure from a low-carbon perspective, as well as the importance of public-private partnerships regarding infrastructure. He emphasized that infrastructure can be an important source of emissions at the national level, urging for reconsideration of the relationship between infrastructure spending and NDC goals’ alignment. Noting that there is no shortage of liquidity for green bonds, Vaughan stressed the notion of “de-risking” to attract investors and scale up projects. Stressing the role of local and subnational governments, Hironori Hamanaka, Chair of the Board of Directors, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), focused on best practices in low-carbon city pilot projects, presenting case studies from the cities of Toyama, Higashimatsushima and Kitakyushu in Japan. Ren Zhengang, Director of the Blue Economy Office, Qingdao NDRC, provided insights from the low-carbon development pilot work in Qingdao. From L-R: Frank Rijsberman, Director General, GGGI; Kouichi Yamamoto, Minister, Ministry of the Environment, Japan; Cho KyeungKyu, Minister, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea; Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative on Climate Change, China; Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and tenth Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; and Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and tenth Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, urged for doubling the ambitions of current NDCs by 2030. Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative on Climate Change, China, stressed the proactive attitude towards climate change of major emitters, like China and the US. Cho KyeungKyu, Minister, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, emphasized tripartite cooperation among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates, underscored key points to ensure NDC implementation in the United Arab Emirates. Kouichi Yamamoto, Minister, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, called for a balance between reducing emissions and removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Xie Ji, Director-General of Department of Climate Change, NDRC, China, co-moderated the session, noting its focus on NDCs’ implementation. Scott Vaughan, President and CEO, IISD, and Kim Sang-Hyup, Former Senior Secretary to President for Green Growth, Office of the President, Republic of Korea Scott Vaughan, President and CEO, IISD, Cho KyeungKyu, Minister, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, and Frank Rijsberman, Director General, GGGI Kouichi Yamamoto, Minister, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates Kouichi Yamamoto, Minister, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and tenth Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Contacts: Kentaro Takahashi, IGES (Coordinator) | k-takahashi@iges.or.jp Ash Sharma | ash.sharma@nefco.fi More Information: en.ndrc.gov.cn/ www.ncsc.org.cn (in Chinese) www.iisd.org www.gggi.org Carbon Markets and Carbon Pricing in AsiaPresented by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy of Tsinghua University, and the Climate Change Center (CCC), Republic of Korea This side event, moderated by Akihisa Kuriyama, IGES, discussed prospects for carbon markets in Asia in the context of the international policy framework of the Paris Agreement. Urging for cooperation and sharing of experiences, Han Duck-soo, CCC Chairman and Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, stressed that carbon markets and pricing will be one of the key determinants for the success or failure of global efforts to tackle climate change. Noting that the combined CO2 emissions of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea account for one third of global ones, Hironori Hamanaka, Chair of the Board of Directors, IGES, said that implementing carbon prices is expected to achieve emissions reductions, allowing the achievement of NDCs’ goals, as well as to attract investments towards decarbonization of the economy. Liu Bin, Deputy Director of Institute of Energy Environment and Economy, Tsinghua University, underscored cooperation between China and Japan on carbon market mechanisms, including quantitative methodologies. Addressing the current status of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in China, Zhou Jian, Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy, Tsinghua University, presented on, inter alia: experiences and lessons learned from the pilot carbon market, underscoring legislation, data quality and allowance allocation; the overall structure of the national carbon market; the two-tiered management system of emissions allowance, including guidelines and methodologies; and challenges, including the process of verification of CO2 reports, the balance between different stakeholders, and the linking of the national and pilot carbon markets. Joo-jin Kim, CCC, Republic of Korea, addressed the Korean ETS (K-ETS), highlighting its key features, emissions status and transaction trends. Noting that regulated companies are getting used to the carbon price, he emphasized that government interventions intended to lower credit prices have undermined the credibility of K-ETS credit prices. Addressing carbon markets and pricing in Japan, Yuzi Mizuno, IGES, discussed the national carbon tax, the domestic ETS and the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM). A panel discussion followed, moderated by Hamanaka, which addressed: the kind of benefits associated with carbon pricing policies; revenue generation and use; concerns around negative impacts on competitiveness; and potential for linking different carbon markets. Duan Maosheng, Director, National Carbon Market Research Center, Tsinghua University, underscored that signals that carbon prices send change the decision-making process of companies, and noted technical difficulties regarding linking carbon markets, saying that it should currently be seen as a long-term vision. Kim emphasized that the issue of competitiveness is less about price and more about uncertainty, noting that the discussion about linking carbon markets is premature. Mizuno said that carbon tax revenues promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, and stressed that before linking different carbon market systems, the coordination of their designs needs to be addressed. In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed best practices to attract industries to carbon pricing, and vulnerabilities of isolated carbon markets in terms of carbon leakage and international competitiveness. From L-R: Hironori Hamanaka, Chair of the Board of Directors, IGES; Duan Maosheng, Director, National Carbon Market Research Center, Tsinghua University; Joo-jin Kim, CCC, Republic of Korea; and Yuzi Mizuno, IGES Han Duck-soo, CCC Chairman and Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, underscored that China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have valuable experiences dealing with carbon markets and pricing. Liu Bin, Deputy Director of Institute of Energy Environment and Economy, Tsinghua University, discussed national centers that play an important role for knowledge generation regarding low-carbon technologies. Hironori Hamanaka, Chair of the Board of Directors, IGES, discussed carbon pricing initiatives as tools to achieve NDC-related emissions reductions. Joo-jin Kim, CCC, Republic of Korea, noted that the K-ETS covers 67% of Korea’s national emissions, 23 subsectors and 520 entities. Yuzi Mizuno, IGES, stressed the need for substantial discussions in Japan to introduce real carbon pricing, including the ETS. Zhou Jian, Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy, Tsinghua University, said that allowance allocation in carbon markets is the visible hand of the government. Contacts: Akihisa Kuriyama (Coordinator) | kuriyama@iges.or.jp Beetsnara Han (Coordinator) | hanbeets@climatechangecenter.kr Alun Gu (Coordinator) | gal@tsinghua.edu.cn More Information: www.iges.or.jp/en icapcarbonaction.com www.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/newthuen/index.html www.climatechangecenter.kr/ccc/eng/eng_01.php Sand and Dust StormsPresented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Gary Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator, Iran, moderated the event. He described the drivers of sand and dust storms (SDS) as the “perfect storm” combining anthropogenic causes, such as land and water management, and those induced by climate change, such as hotter and drier weather. He underscored the economic, health and environmental impacts of SDS. Lewis noted a growing international consensus on SDS in 2016, including General Assembly Resolution 70/195, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Resolution 72/7 and UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 2/21. Masoumeh Ebtekar, Vice-President and Head of Department of Environment, Iran, stressed a growth in the number and intensity of SDS. She explained the differences between sand storms and dust storms, noting health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, meningitis and eye infections. Ebtekar identified 10 hot spots where SDS originate and emphasized that each province in Iran has a local action plan to address SDS hot spots. Noting the transboundary nature of SDS, she stressed the need for international-level environmental impact assessment of projects affecting water availability in the region. She emphasized SDS are a peace and security issue. Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, said the economic impact of dust storms is at least US$13 billion yearly in lost GDP. She highlighted the Global Assessment of Sand and Dust Storms by UN Environment, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), noting it calls for increased cooperation on: early warning systems; mitigation of the worst effects; preventive measures; and research on SDS impacts on climate, oceans and other systems. Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment described SDS as a huge human, economic, health and environmental issue. He included SDS in air pollution, noting that the WMO estimates 7 million people worldwide die prematurely every year due to air pollution. Noting past success addressing environmental problems such as ozone depletion and acid rain, he said SDS can be addressed, but require coordinated political action in the region. He underscored planting trees and building codes as key to address SDS. In the ensuing discussion, a participant noted the role of Turkey’s dams in regulating water supply to its neighbors. Participants also discussed, inter alia, international sources of climate finance to address SDS and the role of UN agencies in addressing SDS. Masoumeh Ebtekar, Vice-President and Head of Department of Environment, Iran, emphasized that SDS are not small in magnitude and highlighted negative impacts on agricultural productivity. Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, said UNDP is committed to work with countries and other agencies on SDS. Gary Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator, Iran, highlighted the nexus between climate change and SDS. Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment, described SDS as “a big killer.” Contacts: Sadaf Nikzad | sadaf.nikzad@undp.org More Information: http://www.ir.undp.org/ SDG 17: Building Capacity for 2030 Agenda through Climate Action Solutions for Regional ImplementationPresented by the UN Yvo de Boer, President, Sustainability Challenge Foundation, moderated the session, and highlighted the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and its impact on the climate arena. Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), noted the importance of an integrated framework to pursue climate change challenges together with sustainable development goals (SDGs). She noted that actions to strengthen resilience also promote poverty reduction and diversification of livelihoods. Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), underscored the need to integrate climate issues in “everything we do to implement the Paris Agreement.” He said that the UNECE Air Convention is the first one to combat short-lived climate pollutants. He noted the co-benefits of regional water management. Abdalla Hamdok, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said access to adequate finance and technology transfer are key to Paris Agreement implementation. Roula Majdalani, speaking on behalf of Rima Khalaf, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), underscored the effects of climate change on infrastructure, food security and water availability. She noted that implementation of the Paris Agreement depends on building capacity in the Arab countries. She noted that, due to conflicts in her region, climate action will not feature as a priority since there are more pressing issues to be dealt with in post-colonial times. Joseluis Samaniego, Director, Sustainable and Human Settlements Division of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), described how his region has been fighting poverty, noting the need to “repackage” the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and climate action to enable structural changes. He noted a regional initiative to promote public participation mechanisms and climate justice that will be translated into better climate policies. David Nabarro, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, outlined the evolution of the movement that brings together climate and development in an unstoppable momentum. ​ From L-R: Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary, UNECE; Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary, ESCAP; Roula Majdalani, speaking on behalf of Rima Khalaf, Executive Secretary, ESCWA; Yvo de Boer, President, Sustainability Challenge Foundation; Abdalla Hamdok, Executive Secretary, ECA; and Joseluis Samaniego, Director, Sustainable and Human Settlements Division, ECLAC Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary, ESCAP Yvo de Boer, President, Sustainability Challenge Foundation Roula Majdalani, speaking on behalf of Rima Khalaf, Executive Secretary, ESCWA Abdalla Hamdok, Executive Secretary, ECA Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary, UNECE Joseluis Samaniego, Director, Sustainable and Human Settlements Division, ECLAC Contacts: Laura Altinger Zahar (Coordinator) | ZaharL@un.org More Information: http://www.un.org/ Advancing Global Goals on Forests & Climate ChangePresented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, noted Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 focus on conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems, and said a green growth economy is crucial to implement these policies. Vidar Helgesen, Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway, underscored that the Paris Agreement and SDGs have ambitious language on forests, and noted that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals must be in global balance for the years 2034-2071 and reach net zero emissions. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Global Climate and Energy Lead, noted the cost of poverty needs to be included in the policies to halt deforestation, and congratulated Brazil on its successful efforts in doing so. Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, noted the importance of REDD+ in assisting Indonesia in implementing its forest policies and combating illegal logging. She noted Indonesia’s moratorium on new primary forest concessions. Everton Lucero, Vice Minister for Climate Change at the Ministry of the Environment, Brazil, noted the last decade’s significant results in reducing emissions by controlling deforestation in the Amazon, and the need to strengthen such measures to achieve Brazil’s ambitious NDC. Robert Bopolo Mbongenza, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Democratic Republic of the Congo, outlined the infrastructure actions implemented by the Central African Forest Initiative to promote forest conservation and poverty reduction. Nick Hurd, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, UK, highlighted his concern that large amounts of resources are dedicated to developing innovative and new industrial processes to take carbon out of the atmosphere, whereas a small amount of resources is dedicated to protecting and enhancing natural carbon systems. Caroline Olory, Ekuri Initiative, Cross River State, Nigeria, underscored that policies need to promote sustainable forest management and community livelihoods, especially recognizing the communities’ rights. Charlotte Streck, Co-Founder and Director, Climate Focus, noted the NGO groups that formulated fact-based assessment of actions taken under the New York Declaration on Forests. She underscored the need to improve legality in the supply chain, and establish more monitoring activities. Marco Albani, Director, Tropical Forest Alliance 2020, World Economic Forum, noted the need to eliminate deforestation from private sector supply chains of palm oil, soy, paper and beef products by no later than 2020. He noted the public-private platform can accelerate progress and motivate companies to include such commitments in their policies.   Karsten Sach, Director General, Climate Policy, European and International Policy, German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), noted the need for countries to strengthen national policies and to include indigenous peoples, community stakeholders and the private sector. He underscored the importance of building capacity and developing large-scale partnerships in all regions to achieve forest goals. Shuji Oki, Director General, Japan Forestry Agency, noted his country actively supports forest climate activities in developing countries, by elaborating methodologies for field activities. Room view during the event Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, said that restoring forests is essential to combat climate change, as is explicitly stated in the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Vidar Helgesen, Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway, underscored that forests are an indispensable part of the climate solution. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead, highlighted the need to reduce deforestation, involving all different actors. Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, noted the role of conservation and management of forests in enhancing carbon stocks in developing countries. Everton Lucero, Vice Minister of Environment, Brazil, outlined policies to reduce deforestation in all Brazilian biomes, including the Cerrado. Robert Bopolo Mbongenza, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Democratic Republic of the Congo, noted the national forest strategy, including result-based payments and financial issues. A participant listens to the presentations. Caroline Olory, Ekuri Initiative, Cross River State, Nigeria, noted the importance of ensuring that indigenous peoples’ voice are heard at COP 22. Contacts: Jan Kellett | jan.kellett@undp.org More Information: COP22: Action on the Paris Agreement